Fifty delegates to the National Conference of Social Work led by Jane Addams of Chicago yesterday afternoon banded themselves together to work for the freedom of Anita Whitney, California social worker, convicted in 1919 of being a member of the labor communist party.
The group voted to send a telegram to Gov. C. C. Young of California asking for a pardon for Miss Whitney.
Miss Addams declared that she had just received word from Washington saying that the United States Supreme Court had ruled the California criminal syndicalism law constitutional.
"That is the last appeal for Miss Whitney. She was a social worker in a good standing. No overt act was ever proved against her. She was merely technically convicted of being a member of the communist party," Miss Addams said.
Former Governor Richardson of California refused Miss Whitney a pardon but social workers expressed the hope that Governor Young would heed their plea.
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